WALMART appears to have added a new label to some of its self-checkout machines, sparking intrigue among shoppers.
Customers have speculated that grocery store bosses have been forced to tackle the issue of tampering with machines.
A surge in skimming devices designed to steal shoppers’ information has been uncovered by law enforcement officials during the examination of self-checkout machines in supermarkets throughout the United States.
And, an image showing a red label attached to a self-checkout machine has sparked curiosity among Redditors.
The red tape is partially covering the screen on the self-checkout machine and it has a serial number on it.
“What is this red tape on card readers?” one Redditor asked.
Scores of social media users have explained the purpose of the red label.
“Prevents card skimmers and tampering,” one shopper said.
Customers have backed the thesis, saying that the label is there to show if the machine has been tampered with.
Social media users, purporting to be gas station workers, revealed seals are also fixed onto the pumps.
Shoppers noted how the label can help workers when it comes to inspecting the machines.
“If they take it off, that means the pin pad needs to be checked for tampering and the seal replaced,” a customer flagged.
Some believe that the label has been put in the wrong place.
They suggested that the sticker should be covering the PIN keypad to prevent it from being tampered.
Cops across the country have warned about self-checkout keypads being tampered with.
What is a skimmer device?
A skimmer device is a fraud tool designed to steal sensitive information from credit or debit cards during transactions.
- Imagine a skimmer device as a sneaky thief that hides on ATMs or card machines.
- Its job is to secretly steal your credit or debit card information when you use it for a transaction.
- These devices are like tiny spies that can copy your card details, including the card number and PIN, without you even realizing it.
- Skimmers can be cleverly disguised to look just like the regular card reader, making them hard to spot.
- Once they have your information, bad guys can use it to make fake cards or buy things without your permission, causing a lot of trouble and stress.
- It’s important to always be cautious and check for anything unusual on card machines before using them to protect yourself from these sneaky devices.
Last month, skimming devices had been found at Walmart locations across Virginia, as reported by the ABC affiliate WSET-TV.
Greg Jones, of the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office, urged customers to be cautious.
“You got to be really alert and pay attention to the card reader that you’re using, see if it’s been tampered with,” he said.
In March, skimming devices were reported at three different Walmart locations in Pennsylvania.
Cops revealed the devices had been placed at the top of the PIN pad.
Marcus Covaci, 20, was hit with a slew of charges after allegedly attaching the devices to the card reader.
It’s not just Walmart self-checkouts that have been targeted, however.
The U.S. Sun reported how a brazen shopper was caught putting a skimming device while standing at the checkout right in front of a store worker.
And, cops have warned about the risks of skimming devices being fixed to payment terminals at fuel stations.
Skimming devices can be paper-thin, making them incredibly difficult to be spotted by the naked eye.
The devices can copy card details and PINs without shoppers even realizing.
But, the FBI has offered tips to drivers and shoppers over how they can avoid falling victim to the scam.
Drivers can reduce their risks by using a fuel pump that’s closer to the store, and by paying inside the facility.
And, they could pay for payments using contactless methods, rather than inputting their PIN.
The U.S. Sun has approached Walmart for comment.
